§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to allow the University for Industry to provide courses for students at levels 3 and 4; and how funding will be provided. [62549]
§ Mr. MudieThere are no plans for the University for Industry to be a direct learning provider. It will rather act as a broker of learning opportunities at all levels. These will be provided in a variety of ways, including by further and higher education institutions.
376WA number of broadcasting companies have expressed interest in the provision of digital broadcasting services to support the GCSE curriculum. Following the recent technology exercise by my Department, it is expected that final decisions will be announced in the New Year.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had with(a) the BBC, (b) Granada and (c) United News and Media over the establishment of a new education channel. [63318]
§ Mr. Charles Clarke[holding answer 10 December 1998]: Discussions take place on a regular basis with broadcasting companies, including the BBC, Granada and United News and Media, about a range of issues associated with educational broadcasting. Companies with a broadcasting or transmission licence and experience in the provision of educational broadcast material have also been invited to submit expressions of interest in the provision of specific digital broadcasting services to support the GCSE curriculum, and a competitive tendering exercise for the provision of such services is now in progress.